# spotdb

Spins up an ephemeral data sandbox for AI agents. Keeps production databases safe from unintended queries and schema changes.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 21
- Author: aliengiraffe
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/aliengiraffe/spotdb
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/spotdb

## What it does

The server creates an isolated database environment exposed over MCP and REST. Your agent runs SQL queries against uploaded datasets without touching production storage. You can inspect tables directly in the browser via Explorer UI at `http://localhost:8080/explorer`.

Built-in snapshots let you save point-in-time states. If an agent script corrupts the data, you can roll back to an earlier checkpoint. Datasets arrive via HTTP POST requests, accepting structured files like CSV.

A working Docker daemon is required for container execution. Without Docker running on your system, the MCP command fails immediately.

## Requirements
- Needs: Docker

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add spotdb -- docker run -i --rm docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add spotdb -- docker run -i --rm docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "spotdb": {
            "command": "docker",
            "args": [
                "run",
                "-i",
                "--rm",
                "docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "spotdb": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "docker",
            "args": [
                "run",
                "-i",
                "--rm",
                "docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add spotdb docker run -i --rm docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0
```

## When to use it
- isolate AI data exploration from live production databases
- capture snapshots to restore previous database states
- run SQL queries against temporary tables
- upload CSV files into a protected sandbox

## Example prompts
- Query mytable with SQL and return the first 10 rows.
- Load the records from data.csv into spotdb.
- Capture a snapshot of the current database state.

## Similar
- [World Monitor](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/world-monitor.md) — MCP server · ★ 89408
- [Scrapling MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/scrapling-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 89433
- [MCP Toolbox for Databases](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/googleapis-mcp-toolbox-for-databases.md) — MCP server · ★ 16717
- [PostHog MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/posthog-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 40409
- [dbx](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/dbx.md) — MCP server · ★ 27669
- [Metabase](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/metabase.md) — MCP server · ★ 49845

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md